Page 111 of Steady Stroke
Used to being the center of attention, Lincoln altered theangle on his own mike and said, “How is everybody tonight?,” on a rising shout meant to stir a reaction.
And it did. Cheers erupted to Emmett’s left, a thundering noise that sent his pulse racing and made his hands sweaty. His chest spasmed once, but Lincoln’s proximity helped.
“I need to give a big shout-out to all of the fans who voted to see XYZ perform this year,” Lincoln continued. “A few months ago, I never imagined I’d be on a stage like this again, much less performing for you guys with two of my best friends on the planet. So thank you and enjoy!”
Andy waited for some of the applause to die down before he began tapping out the beat. Lincoln joined in first, Benji a moment later. Emmett closed his eyes, angled slightly more toward the audience, and with his heart in his throat and his soul flayed open, he sang. He sang the words with power and love, accompanied by Dominic’s gorgeous strings, pouring everything he had into the lyrics.
He’d played “The Sound of Silence” dozens of times with Lincoln, but never like this. Never with such a swelling intensity. Never with a climax that made him want to weep for its beauty. Never with so many accompanying voices that sounded like the whispers of angels. Every single thing about those moments was perfect.
The final notes petered out beneath the thunder of claps and screams and whistles, and Emmett blinked against tears as he opened his eyes. And then his entire world was Lincoln—holding him, hugging him, kissing him soundly in front of the band, the audience, and Allah Himself.
And Emmett kissed him back. With love and passion and gratitude and so many other things swirling inside, a vortex of emotions that tried to swallow him whole.
“Ladies and gentlemen, XYZ!”
Kross’s announcement barely made it through to Emmett’shazy brain. He vaguely registered being led backstage, a seemingly endless amount of hugs and back slaps and kisses on the cheek, and a lot of people talking. He simply rode wave after wave of happy while it lasted.
Lincoln found him again, and Emmett clung tight, pressing his face into Lincoln’s neck, inhaling familiar scents of sweat and cologne. “I am so fucking proud of you,” Lincoln said. “Fuck.”
“Me too. Proud of you too.”
“I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“You had every right to doubt me.” Emmett raised his head, surprised to see Lincoln’s sunglasses perched on the top of his head. Unsurprised to see his blue eyes glistening. “I just hope you don’t anymore.”
“I don’t. I don’t doubt your sincerity or your feelings for me, or that you pursued me with only the best of intentions. I promise.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“You did good, Em. Thank you for being patient with me through all of this.”
“Slow and steady wins the race, right?”
“This time it sure as hell did.”
“Come on you two,” Dominic said. He invaded their embrace and wrapped an arm around each of their necks. “You can make out later. Right now, we celebrate a fucking job well done!”
“I’m down for that,” Lincoln said. “Em?”
“Sure.” He angled to look Lincoln in the eyes again. “How’s your head? For real?”
“Adrenaline’s making me a little dizzy, but no sign of a headache.”
“First sign, you take a pill and go lay down. Don’t ignore it. Bravado and a migraine will not get you laid later.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dominic laughed, then smooched Lincoln’s cheek. “Finally, someone to keep your ass in check. He’s a keeper, my friend.”
“I know,” Lincoln said. “It just took me a little longer to see it.”
Emmett’s chest swelled to bursting with pride and love and peace. Pride in the music that he and Lincoln had created together. Love for the man who’d claimed his heart and forgiven him for keeping a terrible secret. And peace for himself. Hearing his birth name called over the speakers tonight had terrified him as much as it had thrilled him. His name didn’t matter. The thing that mattered most was the man he grew into and lived as—he was the man who had proved himself to Lincoln, and who would spend the rest of his life loving him.
He no longer walked alone in restless dreams. He’d disturbed the silence surrounding his life, and in its place created beautiful music.
Emmett couldn’t imagine it any other way.
Lincoln thrust once more, not bothering to censor his cry as his climax tore down his spine and pumped out through his dick. Beneath him, Emmett jacked himself to completion, their eyes never losing contact, the ankles resting on Lincoln’s shoulders trembling as he closed in on his own orgasm.
